Cognitive Psychology Memory Working Memory Model Evaluation To

Cognitive Psychology Memory “Working Memory Model Evaluation”

To Start Mini Whiteboard Quiz You will take turns coming to the front to answer these questions to check your knowledge of the WMM Quiz

Studies When evaluating a study we use Write down the evaluation criteria this image conjures up

Generalisability…. think……. Sample? Task? Setting? Reliability …can we replicate and get consistent results ? Application…. is it useful? Validity ………. is it accurate? Ethics……did it breach any guidelines? Economic Implications …. . will it cost money or save money?

Theories Evaluating theories

Evaluating of the working memory model Thanks to my visuo-spatial sketchpad I have made it back to my CASTLE!!! 6

CASTLES Evidence for WMM comes from. . • Baddeley (1974) dual performance tasks: when two simultaneously performed tasks use the same component of working memory, performance is negatively affected. • BUT…when the two tasks involve different parts of working memory, performance on those tasks is not negatively affected. • These findings support the existence of different sub-components of working memory as proposed by the WMM. 8

CASTLES Supporting evidence comes from…. . • Case studies on patients with brain damage • Shallice & Warrington (70) found that patient KF had difficulties recalling auditory information from STM but not visual information. • This suggests that his damage mainly affected the phonological loop as he appeared to be able to use the visuo-spatial sketch pad. • This also supports the idea of multiple components to STM, as proposed by the working memory model. 9

CASTLES Supporting evidence also comes from…. . f. MRI scans from…. . • Bunge et al (2000) found that when Ppts were doing a dual-task, f. MRI scans showed significantly more activation. • This shows that the increased attentional demands of the two simultaneous tasks increased brain activity. • This provides support for the proposed role of the central executive as the aspect which directs attention and allocates resources. 10

CASTLES • However there a number of limitations associated with studies of patients with brain damage • Most studies of brain damage are case studies; whilst case studies provide a lot of detail, the subjects may have unique characteristics which mean that they are not representative of anyone else except themselves. • It is also not possible to make before and after comparisons of their memory deficits. • The trauma of the brain injury may have resulted in numerous changes in the brain and therefore behaviour. • These limitations undermine the extent to which we can rely on studies of patients with brain damage to evaluate the working memory model. 11

CASTLES • It could be argued that the role of the CE is a little vague…What exactly is ‘directing attention’ and ‘allocating resources’? • It is possible that the CE, like the other aspects of the model, is also not unitary • Conflicting evidence comes from Eslinger & Damasio (1985) whose patient EVR performed well on reasoning tasks but not on problem-solving tasks • given that both tasks would involve the CE, this suggests that the CE has sub-components involved with each task respectively – there is more research to do therefore! 12

CASTLES. . useful…Application. . useful… • The insights from the working memory model can be used in psychopathology • Park et al (1999) has suggested that working memory deficits can be used to differentiate between ‘normal’ patients, and those with schizophrenia • If this is true, it could be used as a diagnostic tool • However, it could be that working memory deficits occur in other forms of psychopathology also (e. g. anxiety disorders), and that working memory abnormalities may not necessarily indicate schizophrenia but a more generic possibility of mental illness. 13

Talking Point: Working Memory Model or Multi-Store Model? Which is better? Why?

Rubber Brain Pass the brain around the classroom. You need to contribute as follows: What? What is an evaluation point for the WMM? Which piece of evidence will you use to evaluate the WMM? Elaborate …. what else can you say about the evidence So What? What does this mean for the WMM Model? Elaborate on the previous point. What does the research evidence suggest? However? However… How can we contradict this point? Give an alternative contrasting evaluation point of the WMM. Or give an alternative contrasting piece of evidence.

. What? What is an evaluation point of the WMM? What is a piece of evidence we can use to evaluate the WMM?

. So What? What does this mean for the WMM Model? Elaborate on the previous point. What does the research evidence suggest?

. However. . However… How can we contradict this point? Give an alternative contrasting evaluation point of the WMM. Or give an alternative contrasting piece of evidence.

. So What? What does this mean for the WMM Model? Elaborate on the previous point. What does the research evidence suggest?

. However. . However… How can we contradict this point? Give an alternative contrasting evaluation point of the WMM. Or give an alternative contrasting piece of evidence.

. So What? What does this mean for the WMM Model? Elaborate on the previous point. What does the research evidence suggest?

. However. . However… How can we contradict this point? Give an alternative contrasting evaluation point of the WMM. Or give an alternative contrasting piece of evidence.

. So What? What does this mean for the WMM Model? Elaborate on the previous point. What does the research evidence suggest?

Matt Jarvis • How to evaluate Alternatively 24

Prepadectomy Outline and evaluate the working memory model. (16 marks) Be wary of time… remember you’ll only have approximately 20 minutes to write this answer in the exam!